Trunk or box fastener



' (No Model.)

W. B GOULTER.

TRUNK 0R BOX FASTENER.

Patented July 1 bar.

Curran @TATJES Parent Cr tics.

\VILLIAM B. COULTER, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

TRUNK OR BOX FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,098, dated July 1,1884. Application filed January 22, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may 0 near-n.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Gounrnn, of Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk and Box Fasteners; and Ido hereby declareathe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in trunk or box fasteners. It has been customary hitherto to construct fasteners of this class in such a manner that their effectiveness depends upon the tension of a spring. This construction is defective, as the springs become weak by use, and are liable to become set, and thus render the fastener useless.

The object of my present invention is to remedy this defect and provide a durable and inexpensive fastener which can be put' together without riveting or bending.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists, essentially, in a bolt-case provided with an open slot on its back and a catch-bar adapted to slide in the slot, and provided with dcvices whereby it is held in a locked and unlocked adjustment.

My invention further consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the fastener. Fig. 2 is a rear view, and Fig. 3 a detached view of the catch- A represents the case. This case is castintegral, and is provided on its back with the horizontal open slot at, and with the down wardly-extending recess a. The case A is further provided with the laterallyextcnding strengthening and guard ribs 0", and suitable flanges perforated to receive rivets or other devices by which it is secured to the trunk. The sliding bar 13 is provided with the up wardly-extending projections b at its ends, which projections are cut away on the rear ends about the thickness of the case, forming the shoulders or lips I), with which the bar is pressed upward by a spring, and come in contact with the case and hold the sliding bar securely therein. The bar B is further provided with the cam b on its upper surface, situated, conveniently, about the thickness of the case from the projection I). The barB is also provided with the catch C on its upper side and the pintle c on its lower side. The projections b, cam b catch C, and pintle c are all preferably cast integral with the bar 13. The bar B, when placed in the slot 0, is held against the upper edges of the said slot by a light spiral spring, D, about the pintle c. The projections b engage the case as the bar slides right or left in the slot at, and hold the bar against longitudinal displacement. Pressure upon the ends of the bar 13 will slide the cam b past the upper edge of the slot, and the said cam, together with the projections 21 an d spring D, will lock the bar in the required adjust ment.

The section E consists of a single casting, and terminates at one end in a catch, 0, and at the other in any desired shape, either for ornament or strength, or both. The catch a is constructed to enter the case A and become locked with the catch C when the latter is slid transversely by the bar .8. The section I is further provided with perforations eas many as may be desired-to receive the fastening devices.

From the above description it will be seen that the trunk or box lid may be left free to open by pushing the catch C out of engagement with E, and if by chance the lid should fall when the catch C is in its advanced position the latter will be pushed back by the catch E without harm to the device. It will be further noticed that the spring D is not affected by the strain on the catch, its only use being to support the sliding bar If.

The four parts which compose the hereindescribed fastener are put together without rivet, screw, or bending, and form a simple, useful, and durable device, and one which can be furnished at a low rate.

It is evident that slight changes may be made in the form and arrangement or" the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein set forth.

I-Iavin g fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters supported sliding hook-bar seated in said slot,

and a rigid projection for holding the hookbar at either limit of its adjustment, substantially as described.

2. In a trunk or boX fastener, the combination, with a case and hooks or catches, of a sliding spring-pressed bar secured to one of the catches, said bar being provided with a cam and end projections, said projections being shouldered or lipped back from the edge of the bar, for the purpose substantially as set forth.

3. A trunk or box fastener consisting of a case having strengthening and guard ribs, and

provided with a transverse open slot, a sliding bar provided with a catch, a cam,and end proj ections, the catch, cam, and projections being cast integral with or rigidly secured to the bar, a spring constructed to hold the bar in contact with one wall of the slot, and a hook or catch rigidly secured to the trunk or box, substantially as set forth.

4. A trunk or box fastener consisting of a case, A, provided upon one face with a slot, a, a sliding bar, B, provided with shouldered projections b, cam Zr", and catch 0, and upon its opposite face'with pintle 0, a spring, D, and catch 0, the whole constructed in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

5. Atrunk-fastener consisting of acase having a transverse slot, an operating-bar adapted to be seated in said slot, and provided with a catch and spring adapted to hold the bar in contact with one wall of the slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM B. OOULTER. Witnesses:

BENJ. F. HAwLnY, DANL. MILLER. 

